Explosive-engine.



A. MoF. MGSWEENEY.

BXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION PILED SEPT.17, 1912.

1,101,308. Patented June 23, 1911 3 SHEETSSHEET 1..

I Fv 1 1 a 5B nome v @Wdmmo I 'AnflwnyMElUcSu/eeny A. MoF. McSWEENEY.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17, 1912.

1,101,308. Patented June 23, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

A. MOP. MoSWEENEY.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.17, 1912.

Q 1,101,308. Patented June 23,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Elma/Mom Amn MflMm/m mwiuemo ANTHONY Mai. MOSWEENEY, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

EXPLOSIVE-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 23, 1914.

Application filed September 17, 1912. Serial No. 720,842.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTHONY MoF. MCSWEENEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Salt Lake City, 1n the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented new and useful Improvements in Explosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in explosive engines and has particular application to a motor of this type especially adapted for motor driven trucks, although I wish it to be understood that my invention in its useful application is not limited to this particular purpose as the same may be advantageously employed wherever heavy work is required, the present invention being a companion to that disclosed in my copending application filed April 13, 1912, and bearing Serial Number 692,572.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a multiple cylinder explosive engine wherein the cylinders are arranged in such manner as to require a relatively small space as compared with the number of cylinders employed whereby the motor will be convenient, compact, durable and efficient and furthermore, all of the cylinders of my improved motor are connected to a single driving shaft or main shaft whereby the full quota of work or energy is obtained from the cylinders and imparted to the main shaft, the power being taken from the latter to drive the vehicle or for other purposes With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling withinthe scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an end elevation of a motor embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through Fig- 1 at right angles to Fig.- 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged detail views of one of the crank shafts and the driving connections between the same and the respective valve actuating shaft. Fig.6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified construction of support for the actuating shaft.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, my improved engine or motor embraces a housing or casing 1 of semicircular form and a plurality of cylinders 2 radiating from the housing and arranged about the same in rows, each row, in the present instance, including pairs of transversely alining cylinders suitably spaced apart from the adjacent pairs and from the cylinders of the adjacent row and alining transversely with the respective pair of cylinders of the proximate row or series. In

to the crank shafts in the reciprocatory,

movement of the pistons. J ournaled transversely of the casing and approximately centrally thereof and equidistant from all the crank shafts isa main shaft or power transmission shaft 6 having keyed thereto a gear wheel 7 meshing with a pinion 8 keyed upon each crank shaft 3. Thus, in the movement of the crank shaft under the action of the pistons, motion is imparted to the main shaft 6 from which latter the power may be taken for any suitable purpose. By means of this construction, it will be seen that each group of transversely alining cylinders forms a four cylinder four cycle power unit, all of such units acting upon a single power transmission shaft with the effect to give the same a continuity of power impulses so that a continuous and uniform rotating of the main power shaft is obtained. I

Each cylinder is provided with inlet and exhaust ports which in the present instance are formed in the heads of the cylinders and are controlled by the inlet and exhaust valves 9 and 10 respectively. Each valve, in the present instance, is spring actuated to closed position and designed to be opened or disengaged from its seat by means of a rocker arm 11 pivoted upon a suitable bracket upon the head of the cylinder and pivotally connected to a valve actuating rod 12, the valve actuating rods being arranged exteriorly of the cylinders and provided with rollers at their free ends which latter are disposed within the casing or housing.

Journaled transversely within the housing or casingadjacent to each crank shaft and a cam shaft 13 provided with cams 14 suitably spaced apart and adapted to engage the rollers on the proximate extremities of the valve actuating rods whereby the valves may be opened and closed to permit the intake and exhaust of the gases. Also journaled transversely of the casing is an actuating shaft 15 for each cam shaft, each actuating shaft being disposed between a cam shaft and the respective crank shaft and carrying a pinion 16 meshing with a gear wheel 17 keyed to the cam shaft. The actuating shafts 15 are preferably in the form of crank shafts and to the crank portion of each actuating shaft is pivotally connected one end of a rod 18, the free end of the latter being connectedto a strap 19 encircling an eccentric 20 secured to the respective crank shaft of the pistons. Thus, in the movement of the pistons of each group of transversely alined cylinders, motion will be imparted to the valve actuating rods at properly timed periods to open the inlet and exhaust valves.

In carrying my invention into practice, twenty-four cylinders are preferably employed, twelve cylinders being arranged in each row or series, and the cams of the cam shaft common to each group of transversely alined cylinders of the two rows or series are spaced or set approximately sixty degrees in advance of the cams of the preceding cam-shaft, while the cranks of each pair of cranks on each crank shaft are set at an angle of approximately one hundred and eighty degrees from each other, so that in the operation of the engine a series of successive power impulses will be given to the main power shaft 6 at each revolution thereof thereby applying power practically continuously to the power transmission shaft so that the driven machinery may be operated evenly and uniformly.

One end of the main power shaft 6 beyond the casing or housing has keyed thereto, in the present embodiment of my invention, a fly wheel 21, while the opposite end of such end beyond the casing is provided with a suitable form of starting device, shown in the present instance to be a crank 22. In the embodiment of my invention selected for illustrative purposes, the cylinders are water cooled and for this purpose, are provided with water ackets 23, while a suitable cooling fan 24 is carried by a shaft 25 journaled in the bearing 26 fastened to a bracket 27 projecting upwardly from the sleeve 28 encircling the power transmission shaft 6 and suitably fastened to one end of the casing or housing 1, the free extremity of the shaft 25 being equipped with a belt pulley over which is trained an endless belt 29 driven by a driving pulley 30 keyed upon a shaft 31 the latter being journaled in the respective end wall of the casing and carrying a pinion 32 meshing with a pinion 33 upon the shaft 6 whereby movement is imparted to the fan 24. I

In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 6, each actuating shaft 15 is supported within a bearing block 34 carried by one end of a rod 35 passed through the housing or casing 1 and terminating in a threaded extremity having an adjusting nut 36 threaded thereon. Interposed between the adjusting nut 36 and the adjacent surface of the housing and encircling the rod 35 is a spring 37-. Thus, it will be seen that the actuating shafts are yieldingly supported, thereby eliminating undue wear on the contacting parts and insuring positiveoperation of the valves.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and mode of operation of my invention will be readily apparent. It will be seen that I have provided an explosive engine embodying a multiplicity of cylinders grouped in rows of transversely alining pairs and acting upon a common power transmission shaft whereby the maximum power may be taken from the engine. Furthermore, it will be, noted that I have provided an explosive engine which will be found especially desirable for the driving of motor trucks and other heavy vehicles and wherein a relatively large number of cylinders is employed and arranged in 'a relatively small and compact space, as com-' pared with the number of cylinders now constituting a high power explosive engine and the displacement incident to the grouping of the cylinders of such engines.

While I have herein shown and described certain preferred forms of my invention by way of illustration, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made within the scope of the claim and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

An explosive engine comprising a semicircular housing, a plurality of cylinders radiating from the housing and arranged about the same in rows, each row including pairs of transversely alining cylinders spaced apart from the cylinders of the adjacent row and alining transversely therewith and forming therewith a four cylinder four cycle power unit, a main shaft disposed centrally of said housing and journaled in the opposite end walls thereof, a series of crank shafts, one for each unit grouped about the main shaft and disposed concentrically thereof, pistons in said cylinders and having rods connected with the crank shafts, a gear pinion upon each crank In testimony whereof I affix my signature shaft, and a gear Wheel keyed upon said in presence of two Witnesses.

mam shaft and meshmg wlth all of sand ANTHONY MGR MCSWEENEY. plnlons whereby 1n the operatlon of the engine a series of successive power impulses Witnesses:

will be imparted to the main shaft at each IDA A. SWANsoN, revolution thereof. DANIEL ALEXANDER. 

